By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
More European star power was on display following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s epic showing Tuesday. Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis and Finnish Lauri Markkanen were key parts of the battle at Vivint Arena. The Sacramento Kings earned the win, 117-115, after Markkanen’s long-range bucket was waved off.
De’Aaron Fox scored 22 of his 37 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning layup on the defense of Markkanen. “[Feeling] disappointment in myself first. I got up too much on De’Aaron Fox,” the Finnish forward commented following the latest showing adding to his solid campaign so far in the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season, per Eric Walden of The Salt Lake Tribune.
With 0.4 seconds on the clock, the Finnisher immediately went to the opposite end of the court to receive a full-court pass and tucked in an off-balance three-pointer. Initially counted but was reversed upon replay. “I thought I got it off in time and won the game,” he mentioned, “I figured I had a smaller defender on me, and we knew Vando could throw that pass. We’ve seen him do it before. It was a really great pass.”
Markkanen, 25, finished with 28 points, including 15/15 free throws, eight rebounds, and one assist in 36 minutes.
Sabonis, 26, extended his double-double streak with 21 points and 14 rebounds to go along with eight assists in 39 minutes.
Exciting the Paycom Center crowd, the Oklahoma City Thunder blew out the Boston Celtics, 150-117. Behind Antetokounmpo’s career-high, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Washington Wizards at Fiserv Forum.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 26-12
2. Brooklyn Nets 25-12
3. Milwaukee Bucks 24-13
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 24-14
5. Philadelphia 76ers 22-14
6. Indiana Pacers 21-17
7. New York Knicks 20-18
8. Miami Heat 20-18
9. Atlanta Hawks 17-20
10. Washington Wizards 17-22
11. Toronto Raptors 16-21
12. Chicago Bulls 16-21
13. Orlando Magic 13-24
14. Charlotte Hornets 10-28
15. Detroit Pistons 10-30
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 24-13
2. Memphis Grizzlies 23-13
3. New Orleans Pelicans 23-14
4. Dallas Mavericks 22-16
5. Sacramento Kings 20-16
6. Los Angeles Clippers 21-18
7. Portland Trail Blazers 19-17
8. Phoenix Suns 20-18
9. Golden State Warriors 20-18
10. Utah Jazz 19-21
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-21
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 16-21
13. Los Angeles Lakers 16-21
14. San Antonio Spurs 12-25
15. Houston Rockets 10-27
-Top six teams of each conference advance directly to Playoffs
-Teams seeded 7th to 10th will compete in Play-In tournament
Photo Credit: Getty Images